For Friday, June 14, 2024

1 – Going to the beach? You can check beach monitoring information online. 

Michigan has a BeachGuard system that allows local managers to post monitoring and notification data including water quality sampling results, beach advisories and closures.

Beach monitoring is voluntary in Michigan and conducted by local health departments.

The Michigan BeachGuard site has information for more than 1,800 public and public beaches. 

You can click on a map to check results by county, including at 15 spots in Bay County such as Bay City State Park. 

On Thursday, there was only one beach, in Macomb County, closed due to high bacteria levels. 

But conditions like heavy rain can drive contaminants into waterways and result in closures.  

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2 – Later this month is Tawas Lake Day. 

On Saturday, June 29, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in East Tawas, there will be a community event about celebrating and protecting Tawas Lake. 

It’s being put on by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, City of East Tawas, Baldwin Township, Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The Consumers Energy Foundation also is providing support. 

The day starts with a “lunch & learn” with a panel of guests from Ducks Unlimited, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Audubon Great Lakes discussing ongoing conservation efforts.

In the afternoon, there’s a shoreline tour of Tawas Lake, discussion on shoreline management, and a volunteer opportunity to remove invasive Eurasian watermilfoil.

You can register for June 29, Tawas Lake Day, at huronpines.org. 

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3 – Michigan officials want to develop a “green maritime strategy” and are seeking proposals. 

A grant opportunity of up to $200,000 was recently announced for the chosen business, nonprofit, school or government.

The state has a goal to make Michigan’s economy 100 percent carbon neutral by 2050. 

The green maritime strategy is meant to help reduce carbon emissions from commercial shipping, ferries and recreational boating. 

Officials also want to support sustainable development of commercial ports and recreational harbors. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM in University Center, Michigan, near Bay City (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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